Joie Chen to host Al Jazeera America's 'America Tonight'

7/23/13 12:58 PM EDT

Al Jazeera America has signed Joie Chen, the former CNN anchor and CBS News correspondent, to host its flagship primetime program "America Tonight", sources familiar with the deal tell POLITICO.

Chen will anchor the one-hour nightly news magazine from a revamped studio at The Newseum in Washington, D.C. The show will feature in-depth segments on the economy, government, education, healthcare and the environment, and include breaking news, according to the network.

Chen, who worked at CNN from 1991 to 2001 and at CBS News from 2002 until 2008, has spent the last five years off-camera working in media strategy at Branded News and Way Forward Media.

At America Tonight, Chen will join former CNN E.P. Kim Bondy, the show's producer, and correspondents Sheila MacVicar (who was hired from CBS News earlier this month), Adam May, Lori Jane Gliha and Christof Putzel. Former CNN host Soledad O'Brien will also serve as a special correspondent for the program.

Stan Collender, a spokesperson for Al Jazeera America, did not respond to a request for comment regarding the deal. Sources said that Al Jazeera could make a formal announcement as early as Tuesday afternoon.

POLITICO reported on Monday that Chen and Al Jazeera were in formal talks about the position.

“Joie is a strong journalist with a natural, warm presence on screen and we’re excited to see her at the heart of our primetime schedule,” said Paul Eedle, Al Jazeera America’s deputy launch manager in charge of programs. “Joie will be a leading member of a wonderful array of anchor and reporter talent at Al Jazeera America reflecting the full diversity of this country today.”

“I’m thrilled to create world-class journalism with some of the best in the business,” said Chen, who spent more than a decade at CNN. “America Tonight will bring together the powerful and diverse voices of Al Jazeera America and stand out from other networks with its fearless, unbiased reporting,” she added.